BASIN, Samuel Solomon

Published
4:00 am PDT, Thursday, September 18, 2003

BASIN, Samuel Solomon - Born in San Francisco on October 17, 1916, departed his beloved family and friends on September 4, 2003 at age 86. Sam had suffered through several long illnesses after the passing of his dearly beloved wife, Maxine, in January of 2000, and his zest for life and loved ones could carry him no further. He passed peacefully and with dignity at Mills Peninsula Hospital in Burlingame after suffering some distress the evening of his death. Sam was well known in the Bay Area as both a furniture dealer and a sportsman, but most of all he was a great and cherished friend to the many whose lives he touched over the years. Sam graduated with several honors from San Francisco's Balboa High School in 1934. While at Balboa he was an All-City star athlete in both basketball and baseball, and was President of the school's Block B Society. He prided himself in having competed in athletics with such well known greats as basketball's Hank Lusetti and baseball's Dominic DiMaggio. After a season at St. Mary's College in Moraga, Sam played briefly for the San Francisco Seals baseball team where he was a teammate of Dominic DiMaggio's & became acquainted with Frank "Lefty" O'Doul. Sam served in the U.S. Navy in World War II and was stationed at Mare Island Naval Base near Vallejo. He claimed that his assignment was to "watch the submarines to make sure that they didn't turn into P-38 airplanes." Rumor has it that this assignment was created for him by a chief who had a fondness for horseracing and wanted to make certain Sam was always available to go to the track with him and help him make his betting selections. Following the interests of his father, Nathan, Sam was involved in California thoroughbred horseracing, as an owner, breeder and fan, from his youth until the day of his death. If there was a pivot point around which Sam's life revolved it was horseracing -- the wagering, and "track people." Sam would find seasonal housing for owners, jockeys and trainers during the months racing was at Bay Meadows; he would sell them furniture for their permanent homes, & he would provide mattresses for stable hands to sleep on in the barn area. No race tracker who needed a hand from Sam Basin was ever turned down. Sam and his wife Maxine were owners of BAM Stables which produced many winning horses, the most prominent of which were multi-stakes winners "Bam's Penny" and "Salesman Sam." Sam Basin is survived by his daughter Nancy Anne Wakeman; son, Jim Basin; grandsons, Kevin Wakeman and Chris Wakeman; granddaughter, Elizabeth Cromley; several great grandchildren; brother, Julian Basin and wife Suzanne; former daughter-in-law Cheryl Basin; close friend, Shyla Clark; and his longtime caregivers, Vincent Li and Manny Morales. He will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him, but he was such an unforgettable person that those he touched in life will carry a piece of him with them forever. A well attended traditional Jewish burial service was conducted by Sinai Memorial Chapel on September 7, 2003 at Salem Cemetery in Colma. Anyone wishing to make a contribution in memory of Sam Basin is requested by the family to do so to a charity of their own choosing. A remembrance will be held celebrating the life of Sam Basin on Wednesday, September 24, 2003 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Bay Meadows Race Track, San Mateo, CA in the Longchamps Room of the Turf Club. Refreshments will be served, and those wishing to share a favorite memory of Sam are encouraged to do so. Anyone interested in attending is cordially invited. The race card that day at Bay Meadows will also feature a race honoring the memory of Sam Basin.